Vacc-4x Update

[sam66]

    New Vaccine Approach Gives Hope to Those Living with HIV

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46134740/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/new-vaccine-approach-gives-hope-those-living-hiv/#.T0G5BIGdGt8

  Brian Brown has been taking antiretroviral drugs for five years. If he stops, the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, in his body will multiply and eventually, he'll get really sick. "You have to take them with food," Brown said. "Even if you aren't really hungry." A 39-year-old licensed practical nurse, Brown has to remember to take his drugs daily. It's a routine familiar to people with all kinds of chronic diseases, including HIV and diabetes.

Brown got a break, though. In 2010, he was part of a study of a new kind of vaccine for HIV, called Vacc-4x, from a company called Bionor. He was able to stop taking his two drugs for almost two years. The vaccine didn't cure him, but it cut down the number of HIV viral particles in his body to nearly undetectable levels, and his immune system's virus-fighting cells, called T-cells, went up.

Vacc-4x is just one HIV treatment that illustrates a new approach to HIV vaccines that has gained increasing currency in the last few years. Most people think of vaccines as a preventative measure, and early efforts to control HIV were focused on that strategy. The problem is that even though some are promising, preventing infection doesn’t do any good for the 34 million people worldwide who are already infected. To stop the spread, the key might be a post-infection vaccine like those given for rabies.

  Vacc-4x trains a person's immune system to recognize and fight a key protein that HIV relies on, called gp24. It also stimulates the production of white blood cells, which normally are killed by the virus. Early results show patients' viral loads coming down by a factor of three.

Genetic Immunity, a U.S.-Hungarian company, is testing a vaccine called DermaVir. Rather than focusing on a single protein, DermaVir uses a tiny bit of HIV DNA (called plasmid DNA) to generate a set of 15 chemical markers that the body's T-cells can recognize. The idea is to maximize the number of ways the immune cells can "see" the virus. The vaccine is administered by rubbing the skin enough to irritate it. Cells called dendritic cells will pick up a nanoparticle containing the DNA and deliver it to the lymph nodes, where the infection-fighting T-cells are generated.

The vaccine has been tested on about 70 patients so far and showed a 70 percent reduction in viral load, according to Genetic Immunity’s president, Dr. Julianna Lisziewicz. Another set of trials on patients is currently under way. [ AIDS: A 'Winnable' Public Health Battle? ]

   Bionor Rises Most in 15 Months on AIDS Drug Study: Oslo Mover

  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-15/bionor-rises-most-in-15-months-on-aids-drug-study-oslo-mover.html


   With Final Review of Phase IIb Viral Load Data Completed…….

   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/with-final-review-of-phase-iib-viral-load-data-completed-researchers-confirm-statistically-significant-reduction-of-hiv-viral-load-on-vacc-4x-compared-to-placebo-2012-02-15

[contagion]

Bionor is really moving fast with Vacc-4x... This is exciting!

[dpb]

Bionor is really moving fast with Vacc-4x... This is exciting!

Very exciting!  It certainly looks promising.  I'll be anxiously waiting to hear more on its development and data from clinical trials.

[ichigo_kun]

theres an announcement regarding vacc-4x on april 13 . hope it pass the phase IIb trial , cross finger guys

http://www.bionorpharma.com/en/News_archive/2012/All/Bionor+Researchers+to+Present+Data+on+Vacc-4x+Phase+IIB+Trial+at+World+Vaccine+Congress%2C+Washington%2C.b7C_wlnM1m.ips
News
Category:AllVaccinesNutraceuticalsInvestor
Bionor Researchers to Present Data on Vacc-4x Phase IIB Trial at World Vaccine Congress, Washington, DC
[Washington, DC -- 12 April 2012] Researchers from Bionor Pharma have been invited to present data at the World Vaccine Congress, on 13 April 2012.

Chief Scientific Officer Maja Sommerfelt will present quality controlled data with more details on the findings issued in 1Q 2012 indicating a statistically significant drop in viral load for patients who were given therapeutic HIV vaccine candidate Vacc-4x compared to those given a placebo.

[younghopefulpoz]

Successfully results from clinical study with Vacc-4x and Endocine
Oslo 10.05.2012 - Successful Immunization and Safety Documented in Nasal Administration Study of the HIV Vaccine Vacc-4x together with Endocine

This New Option May Offer Easier Treatment Access for HIV Patients Globally

News Summary

  * Vaccine related immune responses found in HIV patients given Vacc-4x
    together with Endocine through nasal administration in a placebo controlled
    study
  * The study also documents safety by nasal administration
  * Further analyses are ongoing, and will be published at a later stage

Bionor Pharma ASA, Eurocine Vaccines AB and
Oslo University Hospital today announced that vaccine related immune responses
are documented in patients given active vaccine in a nasal immunization study,
combining Bionor Pharma's Vacc-4x and Eurocine Vaccines' adjuvant Endocine. The
results are furthermore documenting safety by nasal administration of the
vaccine.

The clinical costs have been covered by a grant from The Research Council of
Norway (RCN) of US$ 1.2 million (NOK 6.9 million), under the GLOBVAC program.

Vacc-4x is a therapeutic HIV-vaccine based on four, slightly modified peptides
(building blocks of proteins) from conserved parts of the HIV-virus. Endocine is
an adjuvant shown to enhance the immune response to vaccine antigens delivered
nasally.

Researchers at Oslo University Hospital studied the effect of nasal delivery of
Vacc-4x in combination with Eurocine Vaccines' adjuvant Endocine, compared to
the effect of Endocine alone.

"We are pleased to report positive, preliminary results from the study,
indicating that Vacc-4x for HIV patients may be given by Nasal administration as
well as by injection," said Professor Dag Kvale, MD, Ph.D., Principal
Investigator at Oslo University Hospital.  "These results are promising for HIV
patients globally, by potentially providing a new class of HIV treatment that`s
even easier to deliver."

"We are seeing these data as important, both for the Vacc-4x and for our other
vaccine candidates," said Steen Krøyer, CEO, Bionor Pharma ASA.

"Positive results from this study with nasally delivered combination of Vacc-4x
and Endocine can pave the way to help the growing number of HIV patients with
unmet medical needs," said Hans Arwidsson, CEO, Eurocine Vaccines AB.

About the Study and the Results
The single blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, immunogenicity study
included 24 patients, all receiving conventional HIV medicine (antiretroviral
therapy, ART). 18 patients received active, nasal vaccine (both Vacc-4x and the
adjuvant Endocine) at either of three different dose levels of Vacc-4x, and 6
patients received Endocine only (control group). All patients were given weekly
nasal drops for four weeks (one patient was withdrawn at week 6, without reasons
related to the study). The final study visit was scheduled at week 8. Overall,
the treatment was very well tolerated, although some reported mild and transient
sensations in the nose the same day.

Only the patients given active nasal vaccine (with Vacc-4x) increased their
vaccine related immune responses during the 8 weeks study period. This outcome
was further confirmed by a skin test (DTH).

These results support that immunization of HIV-infected individuals by nasal co-
administration of Vacc-4x and Endocine adjuvant is safe and is able to
strengthen vaccine related immune responses. Dose-related differences are
currently under evaluation, and additional data including antibody production in
mucosal secretions will be analyzed and published at a later stage.

About the HIV vaccine Vacc-4x
Vacc-4x is a therapeutic HIV-vaccine based on four, slightly modified peptide
sequences from conserved (stable) parts of the HIV-virus, which doesn`t change
even if the virus mutates (is changing). The chosen peptides have been modified
to increase immunogenicity of the vaccine. The product has broad patent
protection.

About Eurocine Vaccines
Eurocine Vaccines is a publicly listed, clinical-stage company developing nasal
vaccines that meet important medical needs. The vaccines are developed up to
proof of concept (clinical phase I/II) and licensed to partners for further
development and commercialization. The company's proprietary vaccine adjuvant
technologies, which are a key element of the nasal vaccines, are also offered to
license partners for development in various indications.

Link:
http://www.bionorpharma.com/en/News_archive/2012/All/Successfully+results+from+clinical+study+with+Vacc-4x+and+Endocine.b7C_wlnO2l.ips

[WRD_123]

I'm interested to read more details about this... and how much it helped the immune response!

[sam66]

NEWS -  BIONORPHRMA  6-7- 12

http://www.bionorpharma.com/en/News_archive/2012/All/GLOBVAC+Awards+US%241.7+Million+for+vaccine+research+on+Vacc-4x.b7C_wlnUYS.ips

GLOBVAC Awards US$1.7 Million for vaccine research on Vacc-4x

GLOBVAC Awards Bionor Pharma US$1.7 Million to Advance Research Towards an HIV Cure Using Vaccine Vacc-4x. Award Represents Vital Step to Research Future Solutions for People Living with HIV.

[Oslo 6 July 2012] Bionor Pharma ASA (OSE: BIONOR) announced today that the Research Council of Norway through its GLOBVAC program (for Global Health and Vaccination Research) has awarded Bionor approx. US$1.7 million (NOK 10,48 mill.) towards funding for a study that researchers hope will lead to a better understanding of how Vacc-4x can contribute to an eradication strategy for HIV. Bionor is the only company from Industrial Sector approved for funding.

The grant is titled “Towards Eradication of HIV-1: Therapeutic Vaccination with the peptide-based candidate Vacc-4x.”

The award will help fund a multinational study to “reboost” patients from the previously conducted phase IIb study with Vacc-4x. The aim of the new study is to see if additional vaccinations, over time, can further reduce viral load while patients are not on conventional HIV medicine (antiretroviral therapy, ART).

A New Strategy to Eradicate HIV
ART is not a cure, and the treatment can cause serious side effects. ART does not kill virus producing cells, and it blocks virus production only while patients take the medication. ART must therefore be a daily, lifelong treatment. In contrast, Vacc-4x is developed to provide long lasting virus control by training immune cells to seek out and kill virus-producing cells, without any serious side effects.

“We appreciate this support from the GLOBVAC program at the Research Council of Norway,” said Maja A. Sommerfelt, SVP, Chief Scientific Officer, Bionor Pharma.  “This funding will help to determine Vacc-4x’s potential to contribute to the future management of HIV infection and to improve global health.”

“If the reboost study shows that Vacc-4x offers further reduction of viral load through additional vaccinations, doctors and patients may have a new weapon to fight the epidemic of HIV,” said Richard Pollard, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases, University of California-Davis. Dr. Pollard serves as member of Bionor`s Clinical Advisory Board.
In addition to the reboost study, the funding will also cover the cost of a smaller study of an adjuvant used together with Vacc-4x, required by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as part of Bionor’s path to marketing clearance for Vacc-4x.

[Common_ground]

One of the reasons I jumped the meds train shortly after dxed. I really
hope there will be treatment options like this in 5 - 10 years. Nice to see that there are also a number of initiatives and projects around the globe, this ought fire up the competition and also put pressure on the pharmas to step up their game, all to the benefit for us pozzies.

[John2038]

Source

Vacc-4x Improves Quality of Immune Responses in HIV Patients, Resulting in Long-Term Reduction in Viral Load

Oslo 20.07.2012 - Therapeutic HIV Vaccine Vacc-4x Improves Quality of Immune Responses in HIV Patients, Resulting in Long-Term Reduction in Viral Load and Potential for Periodic “Boosts” that Could Result in New Treatment Option for People Living with HIV/AIDS. Bionor researchers report findings at AIDS 2012 “Towards an HIV Cure” pre-conference symposium.

[Common_ground]

Bionor gained 8% after market closed on Friday and has almost doubled since the beginning of this year.

I was trying to read the article but couldn't understand if the news were really good or not (?), but looking at the stock I guess it was more than good news.

http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BIONOR:NO